Southern Jazz Music

Consider yourself lucky if you own a copy of this on CD. Because the foolishness that is so typical these days of record labels has struck again! Rhino Records issued this classic set on CD for the first time in 1994. But in the last few years, they somehow decided it's not worthy for sale any longer, and thus have put it out of print. Shame on them! A classic soul holiday album like this should never be put out of print!!!

The one CD that's still available as of this writing that comes closest to "Original Soul Christmas" is the 1991 Atlantic Records compilation "Soul Christmas". But even though that set has more tracks (20) than this one (14), there are five tracks from the "Original Soul Christmas" CD reissue that were not included on the 1991 "Soul Christmas":

- "The Christmas Song" by King Curtis
- "Jingle Bells" by Booker T. and The MG's
- "Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday" by William Bell (though the 1991 set contains a different version of the song by The Sweet Inspirations)
- "Christmas Time" by Ray Charles
- "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by Booker T. and The MG's

However, it should be noted that the last two of the above five tracks were also not included on the original 1968 vinyl LP release of "Soul Christmas" by Atco Records.

Here's my suggestion to help give this set the respect it truly deserves: reissue "Soul Christmas" as a two-disc set fully remastered. Disc 1 would have the tracklisting of the 1968 original "Soul Christmas" LP in the same order as the original album release. Disc 2 would contain all the other tracks on the 1991 "Soul Christmas" CD, plus the two remaining tracks on the 1994 "Original Soul Christmas" CD that were not on the 1991 CD, plus a few other soul holiday classics not included on either the 1991 or 1994 CDs (in order to fill the second disc to the max). Also, the liner notes from both the 1991 "Soul Christmas" CD and the 1994 "Original Soul Christmas" CD should be included. Then, put the 1991 "Soul Christmas" CD out of print and charge a higher price for the 2-disc set. It makes so much sense, that I doubt Rhino Records (or any other label for that matter) would ever do it. And if they're not gonna do that, they should at minimum put the 1994 CD back into print.

Quite apart from the Phil Spector album, the sixties yielded a lot of great Christmas music and this collection of music from the Atlantic group of labels provides further evidence.

It begins with Back door Santa by Clarence Carter, which was later sampled by rappers Run D M C for their Christmas in Hollis. Even if you're not a rap fan, you may have come across this because it was included on the first volume of A very special Christmas. I much prefer Back door Santa in its original form.

There are two instrumentals by saxophonist King Curtis (Christmas song, What are you doing New Year's Eve) and three instrumentals by Booker T and the MG's (Silver bells, Jingle bells, Santa Claus is coming to town). Five instrumentals is more than I would ideally like but they are of a very high quality so I don't mind.

Perhaps the star of this collection is Otis Redding. He only ever recorded two Christmas songs and they are both featured here. He makes White Christmas sound like an extremely sad song. I've heard countless versions of this song and I don't remember hearing anybody else sing it like Otis. While I wouldn't like everybody to make it sound so sad, the Otis version is certainly more interesting than yet another standard cover. As a contrast, the other Otis track, Merry Christmas baby, is pure fun.

Carla Thomas contributes two songs while Joe Tex, Solomon Burke, William Bell and Ray Charles all feature on one song each. All these tracks are excellent and are typical of the performers.

One word review, indispensable! Play it loud.

Everytime this LP was playing at christmas or just putting up the tree my mother and my siblings as well as the grandchildren
would every song, i can't think of any lp on this ocassion other
than Nat King Cole is great!!!

Out of all the songs on this CD, King Curtis' WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE and THE CHRISTMAS SONG tops them all. These instrumentals that takes me back to a simpler time where black is black and white is white. Listening to it makes my eyes misty and my throat choked up and feeling all giddy inside. The King Curtis - Duane Allman combo captured the true meaning of devotion to their craft - making real beautiful music. Getting this CD is worth it if you want to listen to those majestic songs!

Sounds like the background music used in the 70's Rockford Files TV crime show...and a little like the CHIPS music too. Similar to music by Tom Scott from back then. The crusaders never really get hard funky or dirty funky, they are more smooth groovin funk. The sound for the times is very clean, too produced for true funkyness. Don't get me wrong I like the old 60's JAZZ crusaders, just not this 70's phase of their career...they sold out to a large extent, and continue to do so, it's where the money is. No improvisatory feel either. This is for smooth jazz lovers. hard funk lovers will be disappointed, as will true jazzers. I wish the crusaders kept their jazz chops from the 60's but they keep burying it like it never happened, even to this day, afraid to lose sales if they get too musically adverturous like their mid/late 60's true jazz albums. Their 70's albums like this are partly to blame for today's smooth jazz... in other words, not really jazz, not really funky, just kind of smooth groovin, more for casual adults and offices. not challenging, not offensive, formulated to an extent. But hey if you like this, that's cool, just dont think it's real jazz, or real funk. It's smooth and casual, slightly simmers, pleasant background music, but doesn't COOK like so many other groups from the same time period that mixed jazz, funk, and fusion. It just sounds like they are holding back...I know they can play more advanced, and write more creatively, they just choose not to ever since the 60's.

This is a great album.It features fretwork by a young Larry Carlton.Reason enough to run out and buy this classic.

This is a wonderfully smooth album that you can just put on and do whatever drive, kick back, work whatever. If you like jazz or are just getting into jazz or if you just like great music then this is a excellent investment. A rollercoaster ride of of tempos and emotions or for lack of a better word just plain COOL!! My favorite is "And Then There Was The Blues" oh so smooth. The Crusaders are ALWAYS a safe buy don't waste time go and get it.

I love that album. I think It's one of the best Jazz album ever made!The songs "Spiral" and "Serenity" are so relaxing. The Crusaders are great musicians!

The word "vintage" is much more appropriate, I feel. This 1976 release is from way, way back in the Crusdaders' careers when trumpeter Wayne Henderson and guitarist Larry Carlton were still part of the group, not to mention Robert "Pops" Popwell who was the band's bassist. Produced by Stewart Levine, this is a collection of soulful, funky grooves over which each member gets to show his stuff. The vocal tune "Keep That Same Old Feeling" was a hit way beyond the boundaries of jazz and I remember hearing it on the radio a lot back in the day. It brings to mind something Roy Ayers might have done. The guys also got to show their vocal talents on "And There Was The Blues".

It's all good stuff but the ballads "Til' The Sun Shines" (written by Carlton) and "Serenity" (written by Felder) are my overall favourites. For Crusaders fans and fans of smooth jazz from the 70s (when smooth jazz was still being done right), this is definitely worth a look.

A much better album though, it has to be said, is the 1977 follow up to this one, Free as the Wind. It's more adventurous, more exciting and more jazzy. It also has string and horn orchestrations, arranged by group keyboardist Joe Sample. Highly recommended.

A double shot of pianist-siren Amos steals the show in what was a marketable mix of (mostly) boring rap, bland R&B, and serviceable rock with a few other worthwhile contributions (Outkast circa Atliens and Rage before Evil Empire dropped to name the obvious ones) made this album enticing when it was released.

I read all 13 reviews and I did not even see the work Outkast. This is by far one of the highlights of the album. The whole thing is good but if you are an Outkast fan this is a must have just for the one song by them.

i mean seriously it really is.a soundtrack this diverse was unheard of during the 90's.Though ironically this represents the diversity of that awesome decade verry well.theirs something here for everybody.ZHANE,ice cube,liz phair,rage against the machine,brand new heavies.you would be hard pressed to find a more diverse soundtrack from this era.

as far as the songs themselves their actualy good,and i have nothing really bad to say about them.though i must admit tori amous isn't for me.and i belive people had the same problem with this album.it was probably TOO diverse for its own good,but nevertheless a good album.

I have been looking for this CD for the longest. Im so glad I found it. My favorite song is "Soul Searchin" by Me'Shell NdegeOcello.

As one other reviewer said, this soundtrack (as well as the film that spawned it) was way ahead of its time and many of the topics covered in these songs are still relevant today!

The style of this film was also ahead of its time. It isn't pure R & B, rap, rock or any other style of music. Its all of these things. In truth, this soundtrack kind of represents what American means.....a melting pot. That's what makes this soundtrack so unique.

My favorites are "Higher" by Ice Cube and "All I Ask Of You" by Raphael Saddiq but nearly all of the tracks are worth a listen. Much like New Jack City, this soundtrack was spreading a message that is still just as relevant in 2007 as it was in 1995. Highly recommended.

This is DEFINATELY a must-have for the Gospel music collector. I really love this CD. All the songs are great, but one in particular is so moving and makes the CD even more lovable; "Elijah Rock." Along with Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, Dorothy Love Coates, Roberta Martin, James Cleveland, and the many, many others, Rev. Cleophus Robinon contributed much to Gospel music- preaching the word and singing God's praises...

You will not be dissatisfied...